Aparna Ramaswamy Is a Doris Duke Artist Award Recipient

Congratulations to Aparna Ramaswamy (DT, February 2016)! The co-artistic director of Ragamala Dance Company has been awarded the 2016 Doris Duke Artist Award, an honor that comes with a $275,000 grant, $225,000 of which is unrestricted. She is one of seven dance artists chosen this year. In addition to the grant, recipients receive financial and legal counseling and professional development opportunities. Aparna’s mother and business partner Ranee Ramaswamy received the award in 2014, making them the only mother/daughter recipients.

The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation began awarding the Doris Duke Artist Awards in 2012 as a way to recognize contributions to dance, jazz and theater and provide funding for further artistic exploration. As of this year, the foundation has awarded more than $27 million to 101 artists.